Henry Simmerson

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General Sir Henry Simmerson is a fictional British Officer in the Sharpe novels and TV series by Bernard Cornwell.

Colonel Simmerson is first seen in command of the South Essex Regiment of the British Army in the Peninsula Campaign of the Napoleonic Wars. This regiment forms part of the Army under Sir Arthur Wellesley, later the Duke of Wellington.

Simmerson is a recurring villain in the Sharpe series; although the character is rounded, Simmerson is a stereotypical aristocratic buffoon. He is narrow minded, militarily inept and cowardly. He blames his own disastrous military ineptitudes on competent men under his command, such as the loss of a great proportion of his Regiment in a stupid manoeuvre also losing one of his regiment's two colours (presented by the King and representing the Regiment's honour) also displaying blatant nepotism in favouring his nephew.

In the TV series, Simmerson is played by Michael Cochrane and proved to be a popular character with both the cast and crew and with viewers. He appeared in Sharpe's Eagle (1993), Sharpe's Sword (1995) and Sharpe's Regiment (1996). Cochrane returned as Simmerson, now an officer in the army attached to the British East India Company, in the 2006 revival, Sharpe's Challenge.